West Sussex · London and the South East
Merston Flat Roof Survey
Surveys of flat roofs on homes, extensions and commercial buildings in Merston, with drones and thermal imaging where they help. Get in touch for a price.
- Blistering in felt or asphalt
- Splits, cracks and crazing
- Failed seals around rooflight kerbs
Flat roof survey in Merston: what you get
Standing water is one of the first things we look for on a flat roof. It can mean the falls were never right, an outlet is blocked or the deck has started to sag. We record where water sits, check the outlets and look for dips that suggest deflection. Where the deck may be a structural issue, our report says a structural engineer should look at it. We survey single-ply membranes, GRP fibreglass and mastic asphalt, and people most often book us about outlets choked with leaves and silt and loose or cracked edge trims.
In a village or hamlet like Merston, flat roofs are normally on extensions, garages, outbuildings or barn conversions. They need the same care as any town roof: outlets, upstands, edges and the covering itself. The journey and access are planned beforehand. Garages and outbuildings are easy to forget, so mention any you want included when you book.
If any part of the flat roof couldn’t be seen safely, we say so in the report. You’ll know exactly what was inspected and what wasn’t.
- Place
- Merston (PO20)
- Region
- West Sussex
- Prices
- From £150 inc. VAT
- Your report
- Written, with photos, emailed to you
- Survey days
- Monday to Sunday, daytime
- Insured
- Professional indemnity and public liability
- Call
- 07833 053749
- Page updated
- 27 October 2026
When you need someone else
Our survey isn’t a RICS Level 2 or Level 3 survey, a structural engineer’s report or an asbestos survey. It also has these limits:
- A promise that the roof will not leak in future
- Whether the deck or joists are strong enough
- Asbestos testing, which needs a specialist asbestos surveyor
Not sure which survey suits your roof? You can call 07833 053749 or use the contact form and we’ll tell you before booking. The full list of what we check.
Roofs we survey in Merston
- EPDM rubber
- GRP fibreglass
- Single-ply membranes
- Upstands and outlets
- Mastic asphalt
- Felt flat roofs
Rented homes, blocks and businesses
Letting agents can arrange access with tenants, at a time agreed ahead of time. We survey seven days a week, which can make access easier.
Letting agents and landlords in Merston book surveys as well as householders. A written report with photos gives you a clear record of the flat roof, useful for planning maintenance.
Before and after the survey
There’s plenty you can do without going near the roof. Here’s what helps most:
- Keep records of when the roof was laid and what work has been done
- Check from a window for ponding after heavy rain
- Check the outlets after the leaves fall
- Keep clear of rooflights and fragile roof sheets
Landlords, owners and managing agents can keep the report as a dated record of the roof. It helps when planning maintenance budgets, and it gives a baseline to compare against next time.
Keep foot traffic on a flat roof to a minimum. Where someone does need access, ask them to use boards or a protected route, and remind them never to step on rooflights or fragile sheets.
Roof by roof
EPDM rubber
Rubber roofs can shrink back from their edges or lift where the adhesive has failed. We record any we can see, with photos.
Rooflights and upstands
Rooflights, lanterns and upstands are where many flat roof leaks begin. We check how the covering is finished around each rooflight and upstand.
FAQs for Merston
Do you cover smaller places like Merston?
Yes, smaller places are covered as well as towns. We work right across London and South East England. Let us know about access, parking and anything unusual about getting there as you book.
Is the coastal weather around Merston hard on roofs?
Generally, yes: wind and salt air take more of a toll near the sea. Ridges, verges, flashings and fixings are where it normally shows.
Can you survey a shared roof?
Yes, if the building owner or managing agent agrees access. We look at the parts we are given access to, and the report makes that clear.
Does the report include photographs?
Yes. We photograph the roof as we go, and the report uses them to show each finding alongside our recommendations.
Is a flat roof survey the same as a building survey?
No. It is a survey of the flat roof. It isn’t a RICS Level 2 or 3 survey of the whole building, and it is not a structural engineer’s report. It frequently sits alongside a buyer’s building survey.
Is ponding on a flat roof a problem?
Standing water on a flat roof deserves a closer look. It frequently means a blocked outlet, poor falls or a dipping deck, and water that sits wears the covering sooner. Our survey notes the ponding and what seems to be causing it.
What happens after the survey?
The report arrives by email, with photos and clear recommendations. With Standard there is a follow-up consultation; with Premium, an in-person consultation, so you can talk the findings through.
How we price flat roof surveys
When we price a survey, we consider:
- The height of the building and how the roof can safely be seen
- Which survey package you book
- Chimneys, valleys, parapets and other details
- The roof’s overall size
Larger roofs, taller buildings and commercial roofs take longer, so the price reflects that. You’ll know the figure before booking.
Getting in touch
Getting the details right at the start saves time. Please include:
- Access details, like a loft hatch or a shared roof
- The address and postcode of the property
- Why you want a survey: buying, a leak, a storm or new work
- Photos of the roof, taken safely from the ground or a window
Booking is simple: just call 07833 053749 or send us an email, let us know about the property and we’ll explain which survey suits. The price is agreed up front.
Towns and villages near Merston
More services for Merston
Flat and commercial roofs around Merston
Merston lies within about 4 miles of the sea, where sea air brings more salt and stronger wind than inland. Coastal wind works at the edges of flat roofs, and salt air wears metal trims and fixings. Goodwood House, about 3.5 miles north, is one of the historic houses in the wider area around Merston. Older homes in the wider area frequently have features worth a closer look, such as lead valleys, tall stacks and roofs that have been patched over the years.
Landlords with a home close to Chichester station may find that flat roofs over rear additions and dormers in rented property are worth checking between tenancies. If you live in an older home near Church of St Giles, flat-roofed rear additions and dormers added over the years are worth checking. Anyone responsible for a site like North Mundham Primary School will know that large flat roofs, common on schools and other public buildings, need their outlets, upstands and coverings checked regularly.
Merston is about 3 miles south-east of Chichester, in West Sussex. Roofs in Merston get the same thorough look as anywhere else in West Sussex. Merston is one of the towns and villages in West Sussex we cover for flat roof surveys. There’s also a page for Portsmouth.
Postcode districts we cover here for flat roof surveys: PO20. We also cover the places around Merston: Runcton (1 mile south-west), Colworth (1 mile east), Oving (1 mile north), North Mundham (1 mile west) and Lagness (1 mile south). Within a short drive, we also cover Worthing (15 miles east), Bognor Regis (3 miles south-east), Chichester (3 miles north-west), Selsey (6 miles south), Littlehampton (9 miles east) and Emsworth (9 miles west).
Around Merston
Typical jobs here are in homes near Chichester High School For Girls, among other places. The nearest railway station is Chichester station, roughly 2.3 miles west of the centre. Other landmarks nearby include The Chichester City Museum (2.3 miles north-west) and St Richard's Hospital (2.3 miles north-west).
What we do, step by step
Before we start, let us know why you’ve booked: buying, a leak, storm damage, new work or just wanting to know where things stand. It helps us focus on what matters most to you. The visit typically takes about 1–2 hours for most houses, and more on a big or complicated roof. Older roofs in small places like Merston can have low, tight loft spaces, so tell us about the loft hatch and any ladder. We only go where it’s safe.
- You tell us about the roof, its covering if you know it, and any leaks.
- The roof is inspected from safe viewpoints, and from the roof itself where that’s safe.
- The covering, falls, upstands, outlets, edge trims and rooflights are checked and photographed.
- We check the rooms or spaces under the roof for staining where we can reach them.
- The findings are written up with photos and recommendations and emailed to you.
Getting ready for the survey
- Move anything stored under the loft hatch
- For a flat or shared roof, check access with the building owner or managing agent
- Make sure pets are kept safely away
Getting a price
For a price for flat roof surveys in Merston, phone 07833 053749 or drop us an email. The address, the type of property and what you want to find out help us price the survey accurately.